Our extended family (13 of us, ages 2 to 80) will be in Breckenridge for one week in July, and I am looking for recommendations. Our most active kids are 8, 14, 15, 17, and 17. They are more accustomed to beach vacations; now hoping to find some new things they will enjoy --ready to try horseback riding, boating, gondola/lift, rock-wall climbing, jeep tour, etc. They were looking forward to the zip-line at Peak 8 Fun Park, but I saw on the website that they are closed for the season.

Here's what I'm looking for... Are there are any other places to zip-line? Which places for horseback riding and boating, as we are not experienced in either one? Which gondola/lift do you recommend, and do the discount lift tickets that we've seen advertised apply in the summer? Do you recommend using the free shuttle to get around town? Which jeep tour company? When we arrive on July 6th, will there be any 4th-of-July celebrations that are still going on in town?

Do you recommend the Georgetown loop train ride? The Country Boy Mine? Other day trips... to old mining towns or to Vail? What about hot springs... are there any within driving distance that all of us would enjoy?

Thanks for your help!

Wow, if I have a couple of hours I could answer all your question. The short answer is yes to most things. Trying using the Breckenrige web site to run down jeep tours, horseback,etc. I wasn't aware of a zip line at Peak 8 ever but I may have missed it. There are no other zip lines in Colorado. White water rafting should still be good at that time. There is a rock wall at Copper. Take bikes on the Mineral Trail Loop at Leadville. The lifts do not run in the summer but A lift is generally running in the summer at each resort to take you up a mountain. The Vail gondola may be running. Discount lift tickets do not apply since you probably will only ride the lift once.

The free shuttle works fine in Breckenridge and their is still hourly bus service to the other resort areas.

Most activities will be done by the 6th. Glenwood Spring would be the best hot springs but that is two hours west on I-70 but it is a terrific and scenic drive.

Good luck --

Hey we're also planning to be in Breckenridge on the 6th for the first time. Here's the stuff I found and might be useful to you.

The funpark isn't closed...just some of the attractions are including the zipline. But there is another zipline at Glewood Caverns adventure park. It's about an hour and half drive from Breck but def seems worth it: http://www.glenwoodcaverns.com/index.html

We are going to horesback from the adventure park while we are there. If youre not interested in that there's the Breck Stables that I also looked into: http://www.breckstables.com/

A website that we used to help with our plans was http://breckenridge.snow.com/info/summer/ea.act.asp it's def useful. Also on there check the plan your trip > 4 perfect days. Thats really helpful for restaurant ideas and stuff!

If you do the train in Georgetown, have breakfast first at The Happy Cooker right in the center of town - excellent.

Where do you stay in Breckenridge? I am planning to go there this summer with my family of four also.

How is the weather during the summer?

Thank you.

Opps, I am sure what I was thinking when I posted my comments about zip lines. I will thinking of the canopy zip lines and we don't have tall trees but we do have some lines across canyons. There is a zip line on Eagle Ranch at Walcott north of Vail, one at Salida (fairly short -- five lines) and another in Durango.

The fun park at Peak 8 in Breckenridge is completely closed. They have put a temporary fun park in the parking lot next to the gondola. Doesn't look like much is there.

I think most of the accommodations in Breck are very similar. We go with the best price within the downtown area so we can walk to most things. I am sure you get a better price if you stay further out. Frisco might be a better option depending on what you are planning to do.